NEW FRONT END
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
Forum Description: Technical discussion for 1972-1976 Ford and Mercury
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=16778
Printed Date: 19-April-2024 at 8:22PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: NEW FRONT END
Posted By: Postma98
Subject: NEW FRONT END
Date Posted: 04-January-2018 at 5:58PM
| Hey guys, I have a 72’ montego and am looking to rebuild the front end and am curious if you guys know any websites that sell front end components.(upper/lower control arms, steering components, suspension, ect.) |
Replies:
Posted By: lynchster
Date Posted: 04-January-2018 at 6:14PM
|
http://forum.grantorinosport.org/tubular-upper-a-arms-group-buy_topic13213.html" rel="nofollow - http://forum.grantorinosport.org/tubular-upper-a-arms-group-buy_topic13213.html This thread is in this forum. ------------- Chuck 72 Gran Torino Sport 13 Taurus SHO "Mr Pig" |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 04-January-2018 at 8:26PM
|
energy suspension, summit, Rockauto, prothane ... is the 72 Montego body on frame or unibody? just asking because IIRC the Cougar was unibody in 72, could make cross referencing complicated ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 06-January-2018 at 3:23AM
|
A 72 Montego is the same as a Torino, '72 Cougar is like a Mustang. There are only two option for aftermarket control arms. One are the arms from the Little Shop as pictured here:  Several people have purchased and used these arms. They don't offer any improvement in suspension geometry. They do offer improved static geometry, as they have built in caster. There is also these arms from Hotchkiss. They are listed for a Ford Galaxie, but these arms were used by Torino's as well. http://www.hotchkis.net/product/1965-66-ford-galaxie-geometry-corrected-upper-a-arms-by-hotchkis-sprt-suspension/?mk=54&yr=1966&md=2106&sm=649" rel="nofollow - http://www.hotchkis.net/product/1965-66-ford-galaxie-geometry-corrected-upper-a-arms-by-hotchkis-sprt-suspension/?mk=54&yr=1966&md=2106&sm=649 There are no lower arms that I am aware of though. As for bushings, you can use PST, Energy or stock rubber replacements. For Ball joints and steering components, I just used Moog and Spicer parts. PST offers entire front end kits but I personally thing something like Moog is better quality. ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 06-January-2018 at 4:57AM
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personally i think the PST urethane bushings are too firm unless they have changed? the littleshop arms are designed to use the energysuspension bushings that fit the regular a arms too  if you want i can did out all my receipts and get you the poly bushing part #'s.... ------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 06-January-2018 at 10:33AM
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Hotchkis is supposed to have coming out lowers and spindles for the Galaxie as well... ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 07-January-2018 at 7:17AM
You're right Randy. I checked the Hotchkis site and they have the lowers now, but at a CRAZY $780 a pop! Other than being reinforced it doesn't seem to have much other advantages. The Upper arms claim to improved the camber curve, but not sure if that requires the lower arms. Do you know if these lower arms would work on a Torino? The Ford part catalog lists them as 1965-68 being the same, then 69-72 (early), then 72+ for the fullsize cars.  They do have a bunch of other parts for the suspension, including rear arms, sway bars, strut rods, and coil springs. Interestingly the coil springs are rated at 700 in/lbs front, and 190 rear. That's pretty close to what I had in my Torino, 710 in/lbs front and 183 rear. I did end up switching to softer rears as I found them a little too harsh and they seemed to skip a bit on rough roads. ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Big Bird wrote:Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 07-January-2018 at 8:33AM
|
The control arms swap, but there are visible differences in the ball joints and upper cross shafts. We used to swap the whole "Knee assembly" (Upper Control Arm, Lower Control Arm, and Spindle) from Torinos into 65-66 era Galaxies, and it bolts right in. Can't speak for the strut rods, as we used to leave the existing ones in the car. Some lower control arms have a recessed pocket the springs in, which lowers the car. I think those came out of 67-71 Thunderbirds, but not really sure anymore. (30+ years ago...) Springs (Front and rear) swap right in. ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: Dan the ranchero man
Date Posted: 07-January-2018 at 10:12AM
|
[QUOTE=Rockatansky]
energy suspension, summit, Rockauto, prothane ... is the 72 Montego body on frame or unibody? just asking because IIRC the Cougar was unibody in 72, could make cross referencing complicated It is a full frame car like the torino
|
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 08-January-2018 at 10:16AM
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i guess it was just the Cougar that lagged behind getting the frame, making the jump from Mustang to the Intermediate family ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: Dan the ranchero man
Date Posted: 08-January-2018 at 11:05AM
| Correct the cougar joined the midsize platform in 74 thru 79 (basically a montego) |
Posted By: Big Bird
Date Posted: 28-January-2018 at 9:49AM
|
Little bit of follow-up. I E-mailed Hotchkis about the galaxie control arms and they confirmed that the control arms will fit, but were unsure about ball joint to spindle compatability as the older cars use a different ball joint. The older cars were riveted in and the newer ones press in. No answer as of yet on the strut rods... ------------- "What we do in full frontal view, is more honest than your cleaned-up mind." Randy 1979 T-Bird 2005 F-150 STX RCSB 4.6, 3.55 LSD How the Heck does a REGULAR CAB SHORTBED weigh over 5200 pounds? |
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 29-January-2018 at 9:33AM
|
The bolt in ball joints were used on some 1972 Torinos too. My '72 has bolt in lower ball joints. According to the parts catalog the upper ball joints were used from pretty much 1958 to 1978 on most Ford with springs mount on the lower control arms. Since we know the bolt in lower Torino arms will interchange with the press in ball joint arms, I don't think there would be an issue with the Hotchkis arms. I am just curious how much they actually improve the geometry. I am pretty sure the strut rods will not interchange since they have different part numbers from Ford. It list the 1972 and newer Torino strut rods as 27 1/4" overall. It doesn't list the early Ford fullsize cars, but he later 1970's are listed at 27 1/2".
------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |